Wake Island

Wake Island (also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll (having a coastline of 19.3 kilometers) in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu (2,300 statute miles or 3,700 km west) to Guam (1,510 miles or 2,430 km east). It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Wake is located to the west of the International Date Line and is one day ahead of the 50 states. Access to the island is restricted and all current activities on the island are managed by the United States Air Force, the United States Army and by Chugach McKinley, Inc., a civilian base operations and maintenance services company.

Related Topics:
Coral - Atoll - Coastline - Pacific Ocean - Honolulu - Statute mile - Guam - Unorganized - Unincorporated territory - United States - Office of Insular Affairs - U.S. Department of the Interior - International Date Line - United States Air Force - United States Army

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although Wake is officially called an island in the singular form, it is actually an atoll comprised of three islands (Wake, Wilkes, and Peale) surrounding a central lagoon. Referring to the atoll as an island is the result of a pre-World War II desire by the United States Navy to distinguish Wake from other atolls, most of which were Japanese territory. The largest island (also known as Wake Island) is the center of activity on the atoll and is home to a 9,800 foot runway.

Related Topics:
Island - Lagoon - United States Navy - Japan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~